Seasonal Variations of Oceanographic Conditions in the Continental Shelf Area off the Eastern Pacific Coast of Hokkaido, Japan

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  • Kusaka Akira
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Ono Tsuneo
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Azumaya Tomonar
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Kasai Hiromi
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Oguma Sachiko
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Kawasaki Yasuhiro
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency
  • Hirakawa Kazumasa
    Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 北海道東部太平洋陸棚域における海洋構造の季節変動
  • ホッカイドウ トウブ タイヘイヨウ リクダナイキ ニ オケル カイヨウ コウゾウ ノ キセツ ヘンドウ
  • Seasonal variation of oceanographic conditions in the continental shelf area off the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido, Japan
  • Seasonal variations of oceanographic conditions in the continental shelf Area off the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido, Japan [in Japanese with English abstract]

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Abstract

<p>Seasonal variations of water mass distributions and current structures were investigated in the continental shelf area off the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido, Japan, using data obtained in the A-line for about 17 years. Coastal Oyashio Water (COW) appeared in this area during December and January. In January, during the early observations of COW, the southwestward current velocity was detected to reach its maximum as well as the predominate development of barotropic currents. The appearance of the COW was often earlier than the detection of sea ice outfiows from the Okhotsk Sea. This suggests the East Sakhalin Current Water, and not the melted sea ice water from the Okhotsk Sea, could be more important for the formations of the COW in the early periods. On the other hand, infiows of Modified Soya Warm Water (MSW) in to this continental shelf area occurred between July and August, and maximum southwestward velocities were observed during August and September. These inflows probably led to higher density gradients between coastal and offshore regions, and as a result, coastal density currents developed in this period. Compared to the waters in the Okhotsk Sea, considerable amount of modified waters were detected in this continental shelf area. This suggests that water mass modifications occurred on the way from the Okhotsk Sea probably play an important role in the water mass formations in the continental shelf area off the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido.</p>

Journal

  • Oceanography in Japan

    Oceanography in Japan 18 (2), 135-156, 2009-03-05

    The Oceanographic Society of Japan

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